“Can’t Help But Shine†is the first single for Foster McGinty off his new album “Peach Redâ€, and it is a hell of a single. For those that have not had the chance to listen to McGinty in the past, the style of “Peach Red†blends together seventies rock, funk, and soul into something that draws on an earlier tradition but is decidedly rooted in the present. “Can’t Help But…
The majesty in which La Forza begins their “Dance Music For Your Mind†is simply staggering. The disc’s first track, “Vision Questâ€, mixes ambient forms of electronic music with classical and even tribal to create something that will stick with listeners long after the track ends. “Renewal†is very laid back, allowing listeners to properly take in all La Forza has for them; hints of eighties electronic comes forth even…
“Everybody Doin’ It†is a perfect introduction to The Echelons. The female vocals present on the track are very distinctive, and play on a rich tradition that goes all the way from Pat Benetar to the X-Ray Specs, with a few detours (Stevie Nicks) thrown in along the way. The instrumentation that plays behind the vocals works perfectly, adding a funk meets punk groove that is unique as all get…
“Weight†is a bit of country music that plays on a number of different movements in that genre. What results is a track that has a little bit of Reba McEntire, pieces of Shania Twain, and even a little Stevie Nicks at the periphery. “Bonny Call†removes some of the country that was present in this introduction and brings Matson’s unique style to a wider array of listeners. Throwing in…
The tight arrangement of Schleusolz comes out the moment that listeners put in “Running Out of Timeâ€. “They are here!†is a track that blends together rock, ska, and new wave into something that will have everyone out on the dance floor. The slower approach of “Who are you?†draws heavily on the blues tradition, but has a contemporary sound that will resonate in the minds and hearts of anyone…
“Lie Awake†is a distinctive track, one that will indelibly imprint the Straw Dogs on the minds of anyone fortunate enough to listen in. The natural progression that is present throughout “Lie Awake†allows listeners to gradually get their feet wet with the band, as well as establish the band as operating within the alternative and college rock genres. Unlike other bands in this genre, there is a richness of…
“He Who Has Ears Let Him Hear†is an intensely emotional track that has the same gravitas of a Muse or Queens of the Stone Age, but has a diversity of layers that would make bands as storied as U2 proud. Sipo’s first effort on “Year Of The White Rose†will keep listeners focused in on the rest of his compositions on the album, regardless of what genres that they…
Jazz as a genre seems to have fallen into a rut over the last twenty years; where the genre was really popping with the more experimental work of a Chick Corea or a Weather Report, it gradually cooled down during the eighties and nineties. SamPa’s unique blend of musical styles, which includes jazz, blues, salsa, and even rock at the periphery, is the thing that jazz needs to really let…
There is so little in the way of feel good music out today, and it really takes someone like Frank Jurgens to inject a little bit of sunshine to what is a pretty bleak era of music. “Date Night, the Game†is a track that ties together a wide swath of music, playing on the works of individuals like Jimmy Buffett, Tom Petty, and even Warren Zevon. The chorus hits…
Six records into his career, Eric Elbogen (aka Say Hi) has just turned in his best album in an already respectably solid cannon. Oohs & Aahs is insanely catchy, from start to finish. Up until a couple of years ago, the band once known as Say Hi to Your Mom, used a home PC to record their lo-fi, indie pop albums.
I can’t say that I have been a fan of Twiztid since the beginning, because to be honest I did not know of them until about 2002 or so, when I first heard “Diemuthafuckadieâ€. Since then, however, I’ve kept up with their releases, be it as a duo (“Freek Showâ€, “Man’s Mythâ€, “Independents Dayâ€) or as solo artists (“Phatsoâ€, “Chainsmokerâ€). With a little bit of education under my belt then,…
Even diehard Chris Cornell fans have to admit the sound of the former Soundgarden front man backed by Timbaland’s electronic beats is a tad bit disconcerting. Now imagine an entire album of this Cornell hip hop hybrid.
Let the Pitchfork reading hipsters disagree, but Radiohead’s three best releases came out in the early to late 90’s, before the band became obsessed with synth-driven experimental songs. It’s satisfying then that Capitol chose to put out Special Collectors Editions of Pablo Honey, The Bends and OK Computer.
Writing a great rock novel is a whole lot harder than it sounds. There have been countless attempts over the years and the result is usually a collection of boring tour urban legends and rejected VH1 Behind the Music scripts. It’s a pretty big feat then that both Michael Shilling and Jason Buhrmester have managed to turn in solid rock stories just months apart from each other. Shilling’s Rock Bottom…
One look at the band photo and it’s easy to dismiss the Dallas-based five piece Artist Vs Poet as little more than hoodie-sporting, auto-tune dependent Millennials with influences that don’t go deeper than last year’s Hot Topic best-sellers. A rash, slightly unfair judgment call, but pretty damn accurate if their 5-song EP is any indication to what the future holds. Sure there’s nothing flat out offensive about the music, aside…
It’s hard to overplay the importance of 1989’s Paul’s Boutique to the success of the Beastie Boys. The follow up to the band’s sophomoric, party album Licensed to Ill, the Dust Brother produced Paul’s Boutique took the band from novelty white rappers to a legitimate musical talent, pushing the boundaries of a still new genre at the time. There is still plenty of humor, just much less chauvinistic posturing with…
Long Island’s Danny Rocco aims pretty high with his debut The Future is Now, going beyond the staid and routine songs his peers have been churning out. Unfortunately he doesn’t always reach the intended heights. The acoustic strumming, singer songwriter (backed by the band End the Stars) starts the album of with the strongly original, addictive title track “The Future is Now,†but the rest of the album tries, and…
With a new lineup backing up the only original member Erika Wennerstrom and a new surrounding city in Austin, Texas what’s the newest release from Heartless Bastards going to sound like? I’m a long time fan of Heartless Bastards so when I was handed their latest release I was pretty excited to find out just that. Known for their no frills rock and roll sound and the blasting vocals of…
At 75 and with a legacy as a national musical treasure already firmly cemented, you’d think Willie Nelson would at least take a little time off to relax. On average, the prolific cowboy churns out at least two or three releases a year. This year looks to be no different.
Art Brut one of the better pop driven indie-rock bands out there’s newest album Art Brut Vs. Satan, available April 21,2009, is another assshaker all the way. From songs about growing up to an ode to the “record buying public” and a great song about finding the greatness that is The Replacements, Art Brut Vs. Satan is another great album by Art Brut. Over eleven tracks they once again turn…